How To Grow Food Not Lawns
When I was recently thinking of expanding my survival garden, I wondered how much lawn I really need. Would it be a better place to Grow Food?
There are so many benefits to growing your own food instead of a lawn. For example, it is a healthy alternative to the processed food you can buy in-store. It is a potential money-saving exercise, as you can reduce your monthly grocery bill. It allows you to eat organic food that has not been tainted with chemical additives.
However, for survivalists, possibly the biggest advantage of growing your own food is that it allows you to be self-sufficient. This could prove the difference between survival and death in a post-societal collapse scenario.
All bulk stored food will eventually run out. Still, by growing your own, you can continually replenish your stocks and provide for yourself and your family for an extended period.
Even before societal collapse happens, self-sufficiency could be very beneficial, allowing you to live off-grid and removing your dependence on outside bodies. This can also give you added peace of mind, knowing that no matter what happens, you have the resources and knowledge to survive and thrive.
If this grow-your-own food idea appeals to you, then read on!
A Farm To Your Front Yard To Grow Food
In this article, I will not delve into the subject of how expensive and environmentally unsound the typical home lawn is. I am not suggesting you rid yourself entirely of your lawn area.
However, if you are convinced that this is a good idea, then you might be wondering how you get started.
Well, there are several things you will need first. Obviously, first of all, you will need somewhere to grow your food. Essentially, this means you need your own garden or an allotment.
If you live in an inner-city high-rise, you can grow a limited foodstuff supply. Still, it will be very difficult to grow your inventory, so you should research allotments or community gardens in your locality if you truly intend to pursue the idea.
Next, like any good project, this will require careful research and planning. Of course, reading this article is a good start, but there is a universe of material readily available for growing your own food.
You should read widely and deeply. There are too many gardening and permaculture blogs, websites, and magazines to name them all.
You should also check out more traditional mainstream publications like the gardener’s World or chat with people who are passionate about gardening and growing vegetables. They will be happy to share all their tips and trick with you.
Get To Know Your Seasons
As every gardener knows, the seasons dictate what foods you can grow. When crafting your initial plan, you should consider this when making your home preparedness plans.
Most vegetables need either cool or warm weather to grow, so they are conveniently sorted into two groups: those that grow in the cool season (spring and fall) and those that grow in the warm season (summer).
You will soon become very familiar with the fact that you should grow hardy vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbages, and turnips in the cool season, around early spring or the very end of summer.
On the other hand, vegetables such as beans, tomatoes, and sweet potatoes thrive in the warmth and are, therefore, ideal for summer gardens. If you stick by some simple rules, you can have delicious seasonal food all year round.
Head To The Gardening Center
Once you have learned about the world of GIY (grow it yourself), you should devise a plan for your own survivalist garden. This should consider several factors, including your local micro-climate, the number of people you plan on providing for (and their food preferences), your space availability, etc.
When you have a basic plan prepared, if possible, you should share this with a friend who is knowledgeable on the issue. If they give you the sign of approval, then it’s time to head to the local gardening center and get stocked up on everything you need.
This will include topsoil and containers, other paraphernalia such as spades and watering cans, and of course, the seeds themselves.
The Best Foods To Grow
This is one question every novice gardener is sure to ask, and the answer will depend on your own personal requirements. Many enthusiastic survivalists will be interested in growing the foods that have the best calorific value per unit of space taken up. You may also want food that can be easily dried and stored for winter. Considering all these factors, some of the best staple foods include beans, corn, and potatoes.
Beans should definitely be in any serious garden, for it is one of your best survival tips. This is because beans are nutritious, versatile, and contain proteins and calories. Beans also have a long shelf life when stored and can be eaten in many tasty and healthy recipes. Corn is another great option to consider.
Although corn is not as calorie-dense as beans, it is also relatively easy to grow and is the basis of many recipes. It is particularly good when combined with other, more flavorsome, vegetables.
Potatoes are easy to grow in various climates and provide a much-needed source of carbohydrates and energy when supply lines run short.
When picking the foods you will grow, you should consider the expected yield, the ease of growing, and the ease of drying/storing. Including a healthy mix of high-yield crops, cold-weather crops, and perennials is also important.
It is also important not to rely too heavily on one crop. Instead, it is advisable to have a balanced portfolio of foodstuffs in your garden, including vegetables for hearty meals, fruit/berries for tasty snacks, and even some herbs for garnishing.
While the crops mentioned above could provide the basis for long-term supplies, they should be complemented by smaller amounts of other crops like carrots, cabbage, onions, and even fruit.
What To Do With Your Food
Once you have grown your food, the fun doesn’t stop there. As a dedicated survivalist, you realize the food issues present after a crisis, and you should know that there are many ways to preserve or process your homegrown goodies to make them last for the future.
For example, you can make jams and preserves from many of the berries you grow, such as strawberries, blackberries, or gooseberries. Furthermore, you can pulverize vegetables such as butternut squash or tomatoes to make sauces that will stay good for many seasons to come.
You could also freeze many of the vegetables (before or after cooking), such as potatoes or root vegetables like turnips.
Everyone will appreciate fresh juices squeezed from your own fruit or veg and is a fantastic way to get extra vitamins and nutrients into your body in a tasty way. If you fancy a challenge, you could also try and use your food to make flavored alcohols, for example, by growing botanicals for gin, apples for cider, or potatoes for vodka!
But beware, this can be a demanding process, and the payoff from your food may take a long time!
Other Grow Food-Not Lawns Benefits
There are so many benefits to growing your own than merely being prepared for the fall of civilization. By spending more time in the great outdoors, we can become more in touch with nature, which can help us feel calm and at peace. Gardeners commonly report the feeling of serenity they get when they spend long hours outside looking after their vegetables.
Also, by spending time in solitude in the garden, you will have much time to ponder your thoughts. This can bring a tremendous feeling of contentment and peacefulness.
Of course, if this does not appeal to you, there is an activity Grow it yourself community in most places. This could be a great way to meet people with common interests and maybe even pick up some valued hints and tricks for your gardening journey.
What’s more, once you start growing your food, you will appreciate the meals more. Nothing feels so good as a meal cooked from vegetables that you yourself have lovingly planted, tended, and dug up. You can savor the long hours, toil, and sweat in every bite!
A Grow Food Now Mentality
It is important to get your act together now while you still have the resources to grow your food.
You should start to build your stockpiles now, and even more importantly, get growing vegetables so you have plenty of practice for when the time comes that you need to rely exclusively on them for sustenance.
Even if you can only start with a small vegetable patch now or a single container, when a long-term collapse of society happens, you may have only a short period of time to rely on bought supplies while you get your garden up and running.
Sow Seeds, Not Just Aesthetics
Imagine the magic of stepping outside and plucking fresh tomatoes right from where your lawn used to be.
The shift from ornamental to edible is not just a gardening trend; it’s a revolutionary step towards sustainability. Your first task?
Swap out a patch of your grass for a beginner-friendly crop like lettuce or radishes. Feel the thrill of nurturing, watching, and relishing your home-grown food. Your garden, your plate, and our planet will thank you. Who said a green thumb can’t change the world?
Ready to trade manicured monotony for a flavorful feast? Grab those seeds, and dig deep into nature’s bounty together!
Green thumbs have truly never been more important!🌱
